Real Republicans on the end of Cantor: 'the Pope dies, they get another Pope'

Enough with the DC gossip. We asked conservative voters – the GOP faithful, Tea Partiers and Rinos – what the House majority leader's loss means to them. They're pretty fed-up

'This town should be about trying to strike common ground,' Eric Cantor said in announcing that he will resign his leadership post. But voices from his party show signs of discord. Photograph: Mark Wilson / Getty

In an attempt to move beyond conjecture, we asked actual American voters to tell us how this "mind-blowing modern-day 'Dewey Beats Truman' moment" is resonating with them. Here are 10 responses from self-defined conservatives and/or Republicans discussing the significance of Cantor's defeat.

'Cantor wasn't properly representing his district'

Cantor lost his way. He wasn't properly representing his district. Instead, he toed the party line. It's a common problem in American politics, but the primary showed that voters are not going to stand for it. Politicians need to be changed as often as possible, or else they begin to fester in office and lose touch with the people they represent. – Jordan Zammit, East Lansing, MI

[The Cantor defeat] demonstrates that even the most politically well-connected members of Congress are not immune to backlash against failure to uphold government oath – not even the House majority leader. Perhaps now his seat will be filled by someone more committed to progressing the interests of American citizens.

The term 'Tea Party' as it is used by the popular media – and especially in Democrat Party-centric conversations – is a distractor meant to attack the credibility of any politician who challenges the status quo. Voters have a right, and an expectation, to get angry with their government. It is unfortunate that the media instead prefers to ridicule these voters, and to brand them under the Boston Tea Party, as if there is something inherently wrong with rebellion. There is nothing wrong with rebellion. It's what led to the birth of this nation and every other nation in the world. – John Bolger, New York, NY

No matter how powerful the officeholder and no matter how much money is spent, being out of touch with your constituents is the biggest mistake you can make. And it will cost you - big. – Alex Burrola, Fullerton, CA

I identify as a Republican because though there is no party that completely represents my political beliefs, the Republicans have traditionally caused less damage to our nation. I hope this is a wake-up call for those Republicans in Washington who would be inclined to make a deal with Obama on amnesty. We can't survive as a nation if we have open borders that can be flooded by illegal aliens that we taxpayers are forced to support. – Sarah Vigil, New Mexico

'There are no conservatives left in the Republican party'

I'm a Republican. In fact, I'm an elected official: the State Representative for the Second Essex District in Massachusetts. [Cantor's defeat] is not very significant in the big picture. There are 435 members of the House and this is just one seat. Although it was held by someone in leadership, they will just get someone else to replace Cantor. When the Pope dies, they get another Pope. – Lenny Mirra, West Newbury, MA

I believe in limited government. I identify as conservative, but not as a Republican, because there are no conservatives left in the Republican party. If anything, it's become a party that stands for even more intrusion in the lives of the citizens and interference in local affairs. The hypocrisy of the Tea Party is breathtaking. They campaign against liberal social engineering while trying to remake society based on some kind of 50s television fantasy world. They claim to revere the constitution, yet have no problem discarding it in favor of the Bible. The Republican party is paralyzed by factions that would never be in the same party if they were in a European parliamentary system.

Virginia has always been a weirdly conflicted state politically. A change in the weather can affect Virginia elections. – Jeffrey Steiner, Saint Paul, MN

I come from two lifelong Republican families. There is not even the slightest resemblance between the Republicans of yesterday and the Republicans of today. Same goes for Democrats. We are constantly held in check by the absurd notion that there are only two choices when it comes to being governed.

The Tea Party is not smart enough to rally the rest of disenfranchised America because their message is all tangled up with God, race and entitlements. At least they have realized that the ruling elite sees them as a disposable nuisance, just like Occupy. – Jeff Maus, Carbondale, CO

I recently re-registered from Democrat to Republican. Due to low turnout in my precinct (a very Democratic urban district) I was elected a delegate to the Denver County Assembly. I am officially a Rino – Republican in name only.

Cantor lost because he was an arrogant douche, not because of his ideology. GOP obstructionism on issues such as immigration, health care and basic infrastructure help them in the short term, but only hasten the demise of any coalition to win the White House. – Jean Blais, Denver, CO

'Professor Brat is a free market supporter'

I self-identify as Tea Party Republican. [Cantor's defeat] is a clear warning to House Republicans that they should not be favoring big business and crony capitalism over working Americans. Don't believe the media spin about the Tea Party. Professor Brat - a free market supporter who thinks government has gotten too intrusive - is far more typical a Tea Party member than the the press likes to single out. – Warren Dew, Somerville, MA

﻿I'm a registered Republican. We are fed up with the DC bunch. Mr Brat stated six principles on which he ran and would vote, and they make sense. The Tea Party is a popular movement, not a political party. They represent grassroots democracy at work. – Jeff O'Byrne, Jacksonville, NC